Rachel Firth

The Right Reverend Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, has issued a statement in response to the attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue this morning.

Read the statement in full:
www.manchester.anglican.org/bishop-of-ma...

@bishmanchester.bsky.social

People in a church all in robes. I'm kneeling in the foreground facing away from the camera and holding out my hands for the Bishop to annoint them. It's Bishop Stephen Platten of Wakefield with his chaplain Matt stood on his left - both wearing splendid gold robes borrowed from the Community of the Resurrection. Over the chaplains shoulder further away you can see my friend Robb and other clergy gathered round.

✝️⚓ 16 years ago today. Surrounded by friends. TBTG.

YouTube video by The Clash - Topic I Fought the Law

✝️⚓ Psalm 34 at MP today. Took me straight to this and the vision of @robbandruth.bsky.social singing "I sought the Lord and the Lord come." music.youtube.com/watch?v=yhcr... Happy Monday.

Today is the feast of Lancelot Andrewes. That picture is of the character Sir Lancelot Sprat from Carry On films. Between the two is my brain which cannot separate them. My Josephine Butler/Baker issue is similarly challenging.

It all makes sense now, right?

✝️⚓ Look - I know it's not the same guy - but I can't help it. Happy feast y'all.

God is doing a new thing - does new things all the time. ✝️⚓ After 10 months of ministering here as the only on-staff clergy person - I get to pray and listen and receive God's sacrament from the hand of this able priest - my new curate. TBTG.

Loving this

Today at #Huddersfield Parish Church we made our door mat true. Great stories of our town and people told - from education, faith and local media. Lovely performance from the kids of #Longwood Theatre. When times feel hard it's a tonic to remember all we have to celebrate.

YouTube video by Alexander Majere Do you hear the people sing? (Epilogue)

I was once asked in a sub-set of a job interview what music I would choose for my funeral. I chose sensible things. Now - Stanford's Nunc in B flat allowing - I am mainly planning being carried out to the reprise of "Do you hear the people sing" from Les Mis. youtu.be/N_UGAnxeCEk?...

Watching #lesmiserables It breaks my heart every time. Because the revolutionaries and the soldiers are the same. The women who scrub blood from the streets are the same as the Lovely Ladies (brilliant writing).

I have once again been deceived by the vicarage. Having spent my morning under a blanket because the vicarage is cold, I discover that outside in Huddersfield it is actually quite warm.

Small rosary close up. Huge rosary further away. 🐄 #fatherted ⚓✝️

An Evening of Music & Words with Joanne Harris — A New Leaf Bookshop — A New Leaf Bookshop Join us for a special evening of live music and literature with acclaimed author Joanne Harris. Featuring performances by &Piano and Cinder White, author talk, exclusive Q&A, and book signing. Celeb...

New Leaf Bookshop are hosting an evening of Music and Words with Joanne Harris this Friday: St James Church, Slaithwaite... tickets here:
www.anewleafbookshop.co.uk/events/an-ev...
@joannechocolat.bsky.social #Vianne

#evensong ✝️⚓

#festivalofpreaching today

I lived in Eltham for a year when I was 20. Huge nostalgia around days off to Greenwich - walking under the river and DLR up to the city. I always felt you were seeing real London not shiney fur-coat-no-knickers London.

I do love that there London village.

Happy sigh. ⚓✝️

#London feeling delightfully very much like a "go" zone today.

The top of a pale blue and dark grey rucksack, with a pilgrim shell attached to it with red cord. The shell has a cross of St James printed on it in red which is starting to fade.

On my way to @southwarkcathedral.bsky.social for the Festival of Preaching tomorrow. It's been a long hard week and I nearly didn't come - but it's good to be on the way in every sense today.

Flat is a huge challenge to us Pennine hobbits isn't it? Mind you - my knees would love more flat right now!

The Victoria Tower - a folly built on Castle Hill - home of Huddersfield's most ancient history.

View of Huddersfield from Castle Hill. Tree tops in the foreground - the town in autumn sunshine under a blue sky with small grey and white clouds above.

Also - always good to hear about Jesus going up a mountain to pray. So went up the closest thing we've got to one overlooking my parish to pray.

The Man Who Calmed The Sea

Don't hear this often enough in worship. And we heard it in Morning Prayer today. Happy Monday folks ✝️⚓ open.spotify.com/track/216Ilb...

Wonderful welcome service for our new curate Rev Wayne, with colleagues from the Deanery, friends and family from the Midlands, our Bishop and Archdeacon. I have been treated to proper Jamaican rum cake - there is no going back.

Looking over a calm dark sea towards the Great Orme. There's a patch of blue in a silver clouded sky.

Got to have a flying visit to my happy place this weekend. Joy.

I couldn't get through the book, despite being a lifelong murder mystery fan. I at least made it through the movie!

Much as I enjoy watching a stellar cast of Brits having a marvellous time in the English countryside - Thursday Murder Club is absolute utter garbage. I'm sure I'll watch the entire series in the same spirit. Garbage nevertheless.